Columbia State Community College’s Engineering Systems Technology program has been awarded a three-year National Science Foundation Advanced Technological Education grant.

The grant project, “Certifying Future Robotics Technicians in Middle Tennessee,” will establish a one-year robotics certificate at Columbia State.

Middle Tennessee State University is also partnering with Columbia State to create 11 robotics modules that will help students be ready for industry certifications. The modules will be divided into three fundamental areas: assembling, programming and troubleshooting. Columbia State will host and teach this new robotics education.

“We are very excited that Columbia State has received this NSF ATE grant,” said Dr. Mehran Mostajir, Columbia State dean of the Business and Technology Division. “Thank you to Richard Urban who serves as co-principal investigator, as well as Dr. Jorge Vargas of MTSU who serves as co-principal investigator. This project would not be possible without their efforts.”

With nearly $350,000 in funding awarded, the ATE grant program has a strong focus and support for two-year colleges and other higher education institutions. This also marks the first NSF ATE grant awarded to Columbia State.

Courses taught as part of the program will begin in the Fall 2025 semester. Graduates who complete the program will earn nationally-recognized industry certifications, as well as 16 hours of college coursework. Program graduates will be able to go directly into technical industries, while industry partners have also committed to using this program to upskill their current employees.

MTSU received an estimated $100,000 of the grant funds, which will be used to develop various robotics modules.

“We’re extremely excited to work on this robotics certification project,” said Dr. Jorge Vargas, MTSU associate professor of engineering technology and co-principal investigator. “It’s a matter of developing different modules for this certification mapping. There are different topics or subjects for students to do in the field after they get certified.”

The grant extends research and development through May 31, 2027.

Columbia State representatives who helped secure the grant include Dr. Mehran Mostajir, dean of the Business and Technology Division; Richard Urban, Engineering Systems Technology program director, instructor and principal investigator; Patrick McElhiney, director of grants and development officer; and Daniel Garrett, former Columbia State Engineering Systems Technology program director, instructor and co-principal investigator.